Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-30
READY FOR A FIRE.
How the District Fire Department. i
Kept Always ON the Alert.


| Kept Always ON the Alert.
A ROUND OF THE Engine HOUSES WITH CHIEF
| PARASITIC DAY DRILL AND THE NraHT DRILL
| HOOKING Up IN DOUBLE QUICK TIME-soAErRNG
ABOUT THE MEN AND THE HORSES.
| Upon the fourth floor Of the new District build
ing in an airy room, with o freshly-stained floor
| and an outlook to the North and East, afYording
| an extensive view OF housetops in the distance
and bird'seye view OF the neighbors' kitchens in
the immediate vicinity, one can find at most any
hour OF the Official day Chief Engineer Joseph
Paris the man who directs the operations OF the
Washington Fire Department There is little
about the room to indicate the character OF the
business transacted there except large re-alarm
gong on the wall Occasionally one might dis
| cover on the chiefs desk sample Of a hose
coupler or nozzle, or q highly illuminated print
OF new hre engine: There are three desks
In the room, for the fire marshal, Col William
Q. Drew, and the clerk OF the department,
MT Jos Sands, occupy the room with the chief.
does not always stand in an attitude OF defiance
attlred IN helmet and red shirt and waving
pen, as well as With his trumpet and 30 Chief
Paris can be found at work at his desk ike any
other official, except when he Is ont on tour OF
inspection, or when there is fire. When an
alarm is sounded on the big gong, il one looked
out OF the chiefs window he would presently see
coming rafting down the street wide-seated
trott1ng at sharp pace.
OFF TO 4 FIRE.
BY the time the wagon reaches the door of the
building the chief, having put on his hat
and coat having metaphorically dropped
his pen and picked up his trumpet, is there ready
| away to the fire. Chief Paris Is an old fireman,
one famed for his daring and skill, in the old days
81 ne s when rkea their
love or it and from sense or duty He is tall and
rather spare, but well made. His features are
strong and sharp, and his dark HAIR aud closely
clipped moustache are just touched with gray
There is something about him that reminds one Of
the typical fireman OF the old times such can be
seen pictured In gorgeOuSly- prints repre-
senting red-shirted hero descending a ladder
bearing In his arms the form OF q thinly-clad
walden Was All sSn6f i fh to the
lighted up with the lurid glare OF the flames
He has the free and open-hanued manner OF the
popular fireman OF old times, but there is no
boastful swagger about him. TO direct fire de-
partment Is a business requiring executive capa-
city, and to lead his men III charge upon the
destroying flames Is one OF the incidental duties
or the chief engineer. Chief Paris entertains,
however, no refined, scientific notions respecting
dynamics or heat. He wants TO know where the
fire Is, have his force we'll posted and good sup
ply OF water. Find out where the fire is and
Then hit it," was the lacOnic way In which the
chief summed up his idea OF the way TO put out
nreS, as he invited STAR reporter into his red
wheeled wagon the other day to take a triD OF in
spection to the engine and truck houses.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT
AS the wagon bowled along Chief Parris in re-
ply to questions from the reporter, explained the
organization OF the department.. The engine and
truck companies are divided into two battalions
the first covering the western and the second the
eastern half OF the city. The first battalion, In
charge OF Assistant CHIEF Louis p. Lowe, consists
OF Engine co. No. 1, foreman Charles Boss; En-
CINE co. No. 2 foreman, john Maddox; Engine Co.
No. 5, foreman, John w. Kurtz; Engine Co No. Z,
foreman, Frank Wagner, and Truck Co., fore
man, George Spillman.
The second battalion, in charge OF Assistant
Chief VIM: 1. Belt, consists OF Engine CO. No. 8,
foreman, Jas. Frazier; Engine co. No. f. foreman,
VIM. T. SOrrell: Engine Co. No. g. foreman Francis
Lewis and Truck Co., foreman, John Kane.
HOW COMPANIES ARE OFFICERED.
hook and ladder truck company is Differed by
foreman, a ttllerman, and q hOStler. The other
members Of the company are privates. In the
absence Of the foreman the tillerman is in CON-
mand. The hostler has charge of the horses and
drives the tillerman operates the wheel or tller.
An engine company is Officered by foreman, an
engineer, a hostler and an assistant hostler. One
OF the men acts as assistant foreman. The engi-
neer has charge OF the apparatus In the house;
the foreman takes full charge on the fire ground.
Tie hostler drives the horses OF the engine, and
the assistant hostler handles the lines the hose
carriage. At the tire the assistant foreman usually
handles the pipe and directs the stream while
other members OF the company lay and look after
the line OF hose and keep 1t moving as the as
sfStant foreman wants 1t. OF course, there
many other duties at fire which any member OF
COMPANY may Uc Callcu upon u perform.
There are nine companies in the department, but
at present there are only seven actual
foremen, as that Is the number provided for by
appropriation. SO two companies are commanded
by acting fOremen. Chief Paris has urged the
establishment OF an additional engine-hOuse in
the eastern section OF tho city, with a fully
equipped engine company, and an additional truck
house and company In the center OF the city. He
thinks there should be another engine company
IN the PART Of If West Wa
covered by the department requires twelve or
fourteen companies to secure quick and efficient
service in any section where a IRE might break
out. He thinks also that there should be at least
twelve or fourteen men In a company to secure a
good working force. under all circumstances, when
absences On account OF sickness and necessary
leaves OF absence are considered. Now the COM
panieS average about ten men.
THE LIFE OP A FIREMAN.
The flremans life, when he is not actually en-
gagged in putting out fires, is not one entirely of
Incidence He has to be on duty six days out OF
house, night and day, except during the brief
time allowed him TO go home Tor his meals. At
the engine-hOuse he has something to do besides
charge OF different Officers Of the company, as on
shipbOard. Beside each man has regular routine
OF duties. The apparatus IS kept clean and bright,
swung in the hose-tower, drained, dried, and
Kept in good condition, and everything
are drills to 20 through and discipline to be main
tanned. The drills are Intended TO make every
man ana every morse so 1ainlllar With his duties
that upon an alarm sounding for FIRE, the com
pany can get out OF the house to the fire ground
and into action, with the least possible confusion
and waste or time Each fireman has a day off
during the week, and Is allowed on other days
sufficient time to go home to get his meals. Such
a life. one would think would not encourage
matrimOny, but most OF the hremen are married
and many have won their brides and welded them
after becoming Knights OF the Spanner
On his ''day OFF, the fireman Is expected to re-
Spond to all alarms OF fire and report for duty on
the fire ground, In OF fire, that he cannot
leave the city. Every year each man has ten
days leave OF absence or furlough, during which
he Is excused from duty OF every kind. The men
in each company take their turns in furlough he
ginning in July and ending about the 18th OF Oc.
tOber.
sALCTING THE CHIEF.
When the CHEERS wagon arrived in front of
truck A house, on North Capitol street. near c.
and the chief and the reporter alghted small
gong was heard ringing in the house. AS the VS.
iJors entered the door the members Of the COM
pany were drawn up in line alongside the truck
the foreman standing In front. This was accord.
ing to the manual, the proper attitude
as he entered, saluted the foreman and men
and then, conducting the reporter to the rear
OF the house, gave simple direction, Foreman
put your men through the drill" This drill was
takes to tell about 1t. The chief ought TO have
said, "Put your men and horses through the drilLn
for the horses had quite as much to DO with it az
the men. The foreman gave no verbal orders. All
he did was to pull a bell rope that rang little
gong. First two strokes, then three four and i've
THE DAY DRILL.
At the first stroke the horses were freed from
their stalls in the rear Of the house and bounded
forward with rush and CHATTER to their places at